West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-02-17

little New England town mark, The last
resting place OF my box Of stovepipes.
III.
have not, so far. given lieuteant
ID. S father, q reputation for veracity in
his stories. The mention Of the (igi-
lance Committee few moments AGO re-
minds me OF one on him which will IL
| lustrate his character i'm another respect.
In 80 he was in mining camp then
called Hangtown, but now known as
! Placerville. Hangtown was well named.
for 1t was the head quarters of the Nigi-
lance Committee in that portion of the
State, and more hangngs OF awless
characters were going on there p T hour
than In any other village, town, or city
on earth. The little community had
long suffered from horse and mule thieves.
but the scoundrcls were so adroit and
knew the country so well that they were
seldom captured. Once in while. feel
ing secure, one would become indiscreet
orunwary andwould be captured and then
tried before a court Of ,igIlantes. The
leader of this gang of thieves had never
been caught and things got so bad that
finally a determined effort was made,
and he was captured while riding away
on another mans mule. He was brought
to camp, pleaded not guilty, but was
sentenced to be hanged on the following
morning. d., who was member of the
Vigilance Committee, was detailed TO
guard the fellow during the night.
One by one the tired miners went 10
sleep. Night settled down. and ID. was
left sitting on box, his rifle across his
knees, while the outlaw was bound Sc
curely with ropes and tied with his back
to tree only few feet away. The over
land mail had arrived that day. and
along toward midnight ID. lighted can
die and began reading a Cine mat news.
paper in an endeavor to make the long
hours pass quickly. The camp was in a
tall pine forest the treetops So close 90.
gcther that they shut out any light from
the stars. Here and there could be
seen miners, rolled up in their blankets,
fast asleep on the ground. a few smol.
dcr.ng fires still gave a little light; now
and then momentlry fame would shoot
up from one of them, Frightening the
dark night but little, and then through
the gloom could be seen ID. guarding the
prisoner. All was quiet. -. was read
ing home news, when the prisoner, who
had seen the name of the paper, printed
I
broke the silence by saying in low
voice
Stranger, will you let me say n few
words to your I've got only few
hours, and l want to speak to you a
littlen
Yes answered D., in surly tone,
''Do you hail from Cincinnati, my
friend. l see you are reading a Cincin-
natl newspaper, and that was my home,
and would like 20 ask YOU. if you ever
go back that way, 20 tell little lie for
me, and say ! had been killed fighting
the Indians, for it would break my poor
old fathers heart if he hcagd the
truth"
I'm do it,, answered u. 'But don't
call me your friend
Something familiar in the prisoners
voice struck D., however, and as the
man talked d. wondered where he had
heard that voice before. and finally
settled on the man rs Bill S., who had
been big boy and in higher class at
1t. Francis Xavicr's College when he
himself was a little boy there And in
the tall, broad shouldercd, brawnv-l lcok-
ing outlaw, his face hardened hy cx
posure and dissipation, could still he
seen the likeness Of the schoolbov who
had run away from home TO California.
Excuse me - said the prisoner, "for
cnlling you my friend but you were
reading a paper from my home. and 10
seemed to me / had seen you before
Di you 90 10 the Jcsuits school I'm
Cincinnati when you ve ere little boy.
for your face remiDSls me OF young ter
knew there whose name was d., Frank
IN HtIa D
wei, because one day he was being bu
lied by a bigger boy; lie was delicate
and couldn't defend hmscl npl I
turned in and laid the bully ont
es, Bill, said D., u was the boy and
remember IL all But I am sorry 10 see
you where you arc. / didn't think YOU
had gone so low. And now, i'll. YOU
have got 90 die in the morning, and If
you have any messages that you want
20 send home you had better give them
TO me- for your time is short ] will
til the lie you asked me 90 tell. and If
necessary will cover it up with "a thou
sand more
After remaining in silence for some
time and evidently in deep thought. u
continued "Bill. do Won think after
this cxpeiicn c, il you wcro free again.
that you would lead decent li and
b. ONE % good citizen "Yce. said
lil Il would, but there's no show for
me now
well. Fil. if You Will promiss inc
faithfully that You win YER steal again
that YOU viii always try 90 do right. I
viii LET yoI 60, iu remembrance ri the
time when you licked that bully to- save
me, for ] think % boy who would do
Chat would grow 20 be man too coed
90 hang.
"But Frank. said BIN. "can you do
10 and save yourself Tor they might
hang you in my place, and ] would
rather stay and take my INC licinc than
do that
"Ncvcr mind abolt that B;ll Talk
low and we will arrange the plan. will
cut your ropes and give you my knife.
i'm tine morning / win bc found asleep.
my knife t7kcn, and you conc WHOM
You go down The caynou tate my mule.
Bo sure about 30. for my life may depend
on that lIo is tlc dun colored ono near
The stream hc wears % h0rsc.hair halter
You can mi him, but bc careful Then
make your way north. Iili. sell the
mule. and deposit the money TO my
credit in San Francisco The ropd.
were cut and ril wa, free and whHo